"Patience, my Queen. They will come. They will be curious as to why you're
here. Remember, they know nothing of our plan so far. Ephiny will think that you
want to open contact with them again." Tanva finished tethering the horses
to a tree and came to stand just behind Litala.

"They must suspect something. I knew I shouldn't have sent Raska to
shoot the note. Her hatred of the Southerners is deep and it clouds her mind.
Because of that shot, things might not go according to plan."

Litala glanced at her captive, doubt surfacing again in her mind. Was she
doing the right thing? Could she really be responsible for wiping out an entire
tribe? Of course, they let our sisters die at the hands of those men. They
deserve their punishment, said a voice in her head. Her features hardened
and her resolve steadied. Suddenly, the sound of hoof beats echoed through the
silent forest. Her trained ears told her that two horses were approaching at a
fast pace and would be on the other side of the bank in a few minutes. Sure
enough, two shadowy riders soon came into Litala's view and they dismounted
swiftly, coming to stand on the edge of the bridge, which spanned the dark
waters of the river. It was wide enough for three horses to cross abreast and
made of wood, but some of the sides had been worn through, although the bridge
itself could hold a large amount of weight.

"Queen Litala," called a voice in greeting

"Regent Ephiny," replied Litala. "I'm glad you could meet me.
Is this not a fine night?"

"Yes, it is. Tell me, Queen Litala. Why did you ask me to meet you here
and not in our village itself? It would have made it much more agreeable for
you, I'm sure." Ephiny couldn't provoke Litala for fear that she would not
give them a chance to talk, before she did something to Gabrielle. As it was,
Ephiny could not even see through the darkness across the bridge, let alone
where her Queen was.

"I think I find outdoors a much nicer sight than the insides of your
village," she replied, a cold tone entering her voice. "Tell me,
Regent. Have you seen your Queen Gabrielle recently."

Ephiny paused for a second and than replied. "No, I have not."

"Well that is good. Because this is a reunion then, between Regent and
Queen." As she spoke, Gabrielle was pushed in front of Litala by an unseen
force. The Queen came to stand close to Gabrielle, putting her arm around her
shoulders to mock Ephiny.

"Gabrielle!" cried Ephiny. Her Queen couldn't reply, because of a
white cloth that had been tied around her mouth to gag her and her hands were
now tied behind her back.

"Say Hello to your mighty Sovereign," Litala taunted as she drew
her dagger and flipped it around in her hand. She was getting the desired
response from the Regent as Ephiny could not prevent herself from shouting abuse
at Litala.

Now, the figure who had been standing in the darker shadows beside the Regent
spoke. "Litala!" Kaelin called. Her voice rang true and clear over the
running water, startling Litala so much that she nearly dropped her dagger.
"Listen to me Litala!"

"Kaelin?! Is that you? What are you doing...? You have betrayed
us!"

"NO! I am not the traitor here! There is one such, though. If you would
let me explain this to you, you will see that our past judgements of these
people have been wrong!"

"Kaelin! You would believe these harlots over your own experience? Do
you not remember the war? All the ones who died, fighting for our homeland? Do
they mean nothing to you?!"

"How can you say that to me?!" Kaelin calmed herself and then spoke
again. "Listen, my friend. You know I am no liar! I would never betray you to
anyone. I speak the truth, if truth is what you want to hear! Come, we will
talk on the bridge." Kaelin saw Litala turn her head as if listening to
someone in the trees, then bow her head in thought.

"Speak then, Kaelin. I will hear it!"

Kaelin walked swiftly to the middle of the bridge. Litala watched, making
sure that no one else followed. She slammed her elbow into Gabrielle's face, the
bard crumpling to the floor and walked to meet Kaelin on the bridge. She heard
the anguish cry from Ephiny, but ignored it.

"Five summers ago, the day after the summer solstice, do you remember
the day?"

"I do."

"Tell me, what happened on that day."

"Tanva, our healer was banished from our home."

"Yes. Do you remember what for?"

"She apparently told soldiers our passwords. She always maintained that
she had done no such thing though."

"That is because that was true. That story was told to everyone to keep the real
truth hidden. I and your sister, Cyane are two of five people who knew why she had been
banished. She tried to kill Cyane, Litala. She committed treason and the only
punishment for that crime, was death."
Kaelin paused to let the information sink in.

"Why?" came the question Kaelin dreaded.

Kaelin took a deep breath and began to explain. "It is a long tale but I
will try to answer the question. It is enough to say that Cyane made a promise
to your mother to keep Tanva safe. She did not count on the fact that Tanva
would fall in love with her. The healer's love was not returned and one day, I
walked into her hut, only to smell the scent of Hemlock being mixed into a
drink. I said nothing, but asked who was to drink that and Tanva replied it was
for the Queen's headache. I let her take it over, but I followed her to see if Tanva
was really trying to kill Cyane. I prevented Tanva from succeeding, but the
promise that your sister made to your mother forced her to act differently. We
covered up the crime, and made up another so she would be banished and not
executed."

"Who else knew about this? Who were the five? Why did you not tell me
about this?!"

"I, Cyane, Tanva, Kilda and Dana."

"You told them, but not me?" The hurt in Litala's voice was
apparent.

"We had no choice. Dana was Cyane's bondmate to be. How could she not
tell her? Your youngest sister walked into the hut as I overturned the cup Tanva
was holding." Kaelin looked into the river. "That was really the
reason why Kilda gave me her Right of Caste. She felt that it was right, and
then after the war she used the battle as the reason why I should have it. No
one questioned it and we all thought it was buried in the past."

"I do not see what this has to do with the war we had with those
men."

"I am coming to that, Lit. After Tanva was banished, she came straight
here, to the Southern Amazons." Kaelin saw Litala's confused features.
"That's right. She knew she could, because they would accept a traveller
into their village, especially a healer. Can you imagine how much she would want
revenge on us? The two armies advanced on us exactly a year and one day after we
banished her. Do you remember how we thought it strange that the men could find
their way around so easily in forest trails that they had never seen before?
Well, if someone were giving them information on us, then it would not be very
hard."

"Are you saying that it was Tanva who started the armies' invasion on us?"

"Yes. It may even have been her who told them to invade us. Then there were those supposed conversations of soldiers, about a
scarred warrior woman that were overheard. It all makes sense."

Litala shook her head. "Even if all this is true, the Southerners still
refused to help us. For that they deserve death."

"Do they? Who are we to deal out death so easily? We have no control
over life, why should we control death?" Kaelin pointed out.
"It's not true about our Southern kin not helping us. They never received
the message. How do they respond to help if they didn't know we were under
attack?"

"What do you mean? You saw Pivan ride out with the request. And, you
were the one who brought her into the Royal Hut, at least what was left of her.
How can you say we didn't send for help?"

"I didn't say that. I said they never got the message. Someone
intercepted Pivan on her errand and made it look like she had been killed by our
Southern sisters. Even Melosa's reply and signature were forged. So began our feud with
the Southern Amazons and none of us ever spoke to them about it, so how could we
find out the truth? After we defeated the armies of men, we burned for revenge
but as the years passed, it was gradually pushed into the backs of our minds.
Until that day." Kaelin stopped, and turned to face the side of the bridge,
resting her arms on the edge.

"Cyane's accident?" asked Litala, her voice quieter as she began to
understand. Kaelin nodded. "It wasn't an accident, was it?"

"No. I always believed it wasn't an accident and now I am sure it was
Tanva's doing."

"How?"

"When Cyane said that she was going to go herself and talk with the
Southern Amazons, you know how some people reacted. People like Raska. They were
furious, and I have a feeling that they have been keeping in contact with Tanva
for the last five years. They must have told her about the trip. It was a
perfect chance for her, to kill everyone who knew about the cover-up."
Kaelin sighed loudly. "That valley had been secured, and our best scouts
had been up there to check the safety. There was no reason why it happened. Only
three escaped that landslide out of the forty that set out. Myself, Ranin, and Kalla, and only because we had
been riding as the rearguard." Kaelin moved swiftly off the topic, as she remembered
the painful memories of that day. "It did not matter, Tanva's doing or not,
she had succeeded in ridding herself of all but one of her adversaries. And I
was not staying for much longer."

"So you are telling me that Tanva first tried to murder my sister then tried to get revenge on the Northern
Amazons by helping the armies of men. Then when that failed, she saw an
opportunity and killed Cyane,
Dana and Kilda?"

"Yes," replied Kaelin, flinching slightly at the mention of her
dead friends.

"I don't believe it," said Litala, giving Kaelin a sideways glance,
trying to tell whether she was lying or not.

"It's logical, Lit. Look at what you're doing now. What are you
doing? You're about to go to war with fellow Amazons. Surely you can see that
it's wrong." Litala looked down at her hands, not knowing why, but feeling ashamed. She
looked over to the dark trees where she knew Tanva was waiting, wondering if
Kaelin's words were true. "Where is Tanva, Litala? She's dangerous," warned Kaelin.

"She's..."

Suddenly, Litala took off towards Gabrielle, who was still lying down on the
ground. She launched herself into a dark figure that had been approaching the
prone Southern Amazon Queen. A sickening scream sounded as she grappled with the
unseen foe and Kaelin stood in shock, not knowing what had just
occurred. Quickly, she ran across the bridge, realising that Ephiny was now
beside her. They reached the two fallen women, Ephiny darting to Gabrielle's
side and Kaelin gently rolling Litala over
and on to her back. What she saw, made her gasp. A knife was imbedded in the
stomach of her friend. Short breaths were coming from the
woman, and Kaelin sat down, pulling her head on to her lap, stroking her
hair. She looked up swiftly as her heard the faint rustling of someone
running away through the forest.

"Litala, my friend. You're going to be okay. Don't worry."

"No... Kae. I'm... dying... you don't have... to pretend."

"Shush, save your energy."

"No... I have to.. " Litala turned her head with great effort to
look at Gabrielle. "She's... a good one. I... saw it in her... like Brali..."
she whispered. The injured woman smiled, closing her eyes. Kaelin smiled sadly
with her friend as she remembered Litala's bondmate, killed in the war with the
men.

Litala opened her eyes again, struggling to form words. "Stop them..
Kae. The Amazons..."

"Don't say that! You're not going to die on me. Hang on, Lit. I'll get
you to the village, and maybe the Healer can do something, anything,"
Kaelin closed her eyes tightly and held her friend close.

"Hm, maybe," Litala whispered, but both of them knew the truth.
Stomach wounds were virtually untreatable, but the dying person could last for
hours before they finally died from the internal bleeding. Litala closed her
eyes and Kaelin knew she had passed out.

Kaelin
looked up to see two pairs of eyes staring at her, silently. Sighing shakily, she glanced up at
the trees, wondering why there were no Northern Amazon scouts in the branches
above. "She got away," she murmured to herself. She stood silently,
carrying the body of Queen Litala and crossed the bridge, placing the body on
the horse and vaulting up behind. She waited in silent thought as Ephiny helped
Gabrielle, who had a nasty gash on her forehead as she had crumpled to the
ground, over the bridge and up onto her horse, then mounting herself behind
her Queen. "They're coming," the grieved warrior said softly, looking into the trees
across the bridge. Kaelin rode off at a gentle pace, so as not to disturb the
mortally wounded Queen any more than she had to, the events of the night weighing
heavily on her.

~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tanva crashed through the underbrush of the forest, running as fast as she
could away from the scene. She didn't even stop to check if anyone was
following, in case they caught her. Suddenly, three Amazons appeared from
nowhere to stand in her path. She ran straight into them and the Amazon in the
middle grabbed the struggling woman.

"Tanva?"

"Yes, yes," she cried.

"Tanva! Calm yourself. Where is the Queen?" asked a worried voice.

Tanva finally stopped struggling, realising that she had run into an advance
party of Northern Amazons. "She um... " Tanva thought swiftly.
"She's dead. They killed her. We tried to reason with them, but they
ambushed us and I only just escaped," she rushed out. "We should
attack them now, while they think they have the upper hand. We have to avenge
the Queen!"

The tall Amazon looked at her in shock, while another looked into the
distance trying to see any sign of pursuit. The woman holding her turned to one
of her comrades. They had all heard the primal scream, and they had moved
out to investigate.

"Send word to the divisions to tell them that we are not waiting
for dawn. We strike now."

"Yes, Captain Kalla."

She turned to the other warrior. "Take Tanva
to our main force in the cave. Tell them to advance when you get there. The
attack will go ahead as planned." She looked hard at Tanva, as if trying to
read the woman. "Go now. These so called Amazons have done enough to us,
without murdering our Queen. Litala will be avenged!"

~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eponin looked up at the moon, halfway through its journey in the sky, and
sighed. Everything was in place and there was nothing for it, but to wait until
word came that the divisions of Northern Amazons were on the move. Only then,
could she send her Amazons out, and she prayed that Kaelin and Ephiny would make
it back before then, with Gabrielle alive. She walked across the village and
headed towards the Strategy Hut to look over the plans a fifth time. As she
passed the Royal Hut, she spied a candle light burning through the window and
she halted outside the door, unsure of whether she should attempt to talk to the
dark warrior. After all, there was a very good chance that Xena would end up
killing her, but she decided to take that chance. She knocked. There were sounds
of movement in the room, before the door was yanked open by an expectant
warrior.

"Gabrielle?" she blurted out, anxiously.

"Erm, no. I'm sorry Xena. I was just on my way to the Strategy Hut. I
saw a light on and I just wanted to see if you wanted to accompany me or
something. I'll go if you want."

Xena let out a long breath. "No, it's okay Eponin. I was going to go to
look over the plans again anyway, so I'll go with you." Xena stepped out of
the hut and down the few steps that led to the door.

Eponin glanced at the strained expression in Xena's eyes and plucked up her
courage to try and ease her pain. It wasn't that talking was something Eponin
was not good at, but it was the tactfulness that she lacked. She usually left
these situations to Ephiny or Solari, but since Ephiny was attempting to
retrieve their Queen, and Solari was still sorting out plans with her section,
the job was left with her.

"Xena?" Xena turned her head to look at Eponin. The Weapons master
suddenly saw just how tired Xena looked, as though her normally sharp eyes had
dimmed somehow. Maybe it's the dark, she thought to herself. But she
didn't believe it. "Erm, I know we've had our differences before. But I
thought we could forget the past." Xena raised an eyebrow. "I know you
must be going through Tartarus now, but I want you to know that the Nation is
here for you, whatever happens. As much as you dislike it, you're a part of us
now and we look after our own." Eponin broke the gaze turned her eyes
downwards.

"Thank you," said Xena quietly after a few seconds, surprising the
Amazon.

"That's okay," Eponin mumbled, embarrassed and looked up as Xena
was about to push the door to the hut open. Suddenly, there was a commotion at
the gates and shouting could be heard. Eponin and Xena glanced at each other and
then broke into a run to see what was wrong. A few Amazon guards were hurriedly
unbarring the gates and as soon as the opening was wide enough, a jet black war
horse came surging through. By now, Xena and Eponin had reached the gates and
Xena's heart jumped into her throat as she saw what looked like a blonde woman,
cradled in one of Kaelin's arms. She's dead! her mind screamed.

"Gabrielle!" screamed Xena in agony, sprinting to her childhood
friend, who had dismounted and was now gently taking the body from the horse and
into her arms. Behind Kaelin, came
another smaller, chestnut horse, carrying two riders.

"Xena!" came the voice that Xena knew so well and had prayed to
every God she knew to hear that voice again.

"Gabrielle!" shouted Xena again as she ran past Kaelin, pausing
briefly to lay a hand on her friend's shoulder. The two
riders had dismounted already, one supporting the other.

"Be careful Xena, she's hurt," warned Ephiny before she jogged over
to Kaelin who was walking towards the Healer's Hut, carrying her burden.

But Xena wasn't listening. She scooped the Amazon Queen into a tight hug,
Gabrielle returning the embrace just as fiercely. Suddenly, the rest of the
world had slipped away and the only people left standing were them. "I'm
sorry, Gabrielle. I'm so sorry," she whispered against the smaller woman's
ear.

"You're sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for, Xena."

"Yes I do. I should have been there for you. I should have prevented
them from taking you, from hurting you. I should have protected you..."
Xena rambled on.

Gabrielle looked up and placed a her finger on Xena's lips to quiet her. Time
seemed to stand still as blue eyes looked into emerald and silent words of love
and understanding passed unspoken between them. Xena took hold of Gabrielle's
hand with her own, removing her finger from her lips, never breaking their gaze.
Gabrielle's arms came to encircle Xena's neck as she gently drew the warrior's
lips to her own. Xena had never in her life, experienced the feelings that this
woman was stirring in her now. As their lips touched, the small flame that had
been burning in her soul was suddenly all-consuming and she felt all control
leave her as their tongues danced a dance of love. It was a slow exploration of
a new tale that had begun for the two of them. When they were finally forced to
part, they stood, foreheads touching, their eyes locked onto one another, each
of them conveying the love they had found in each other.

"I love you, Xena," whispered Gabrielle.

"I love you, Gabrielle," replied Xena.

Suddenly, a horn sounded throughout the village three times, startling Xena
and Gabrielle. They broke their embrace as Eponin came running towards
them.

"It's started. They're on the move. Take your group down to your
section. Quick!" the brunette shouted at Xena, as she took off in another
direction. Scores of Amazon were arranging themselves in their groups, waiting
to be issued orders from their Captains.

Xena turned to face Gabrielle, the anguish written all over her features.
"Gabrielle, you must stay here. The children and elders need your strength.
I must go. We have to stop them," she rushed.

Gabrielle grabbed hold of Xena's hands. "No, Xena. We can't go to war
with them. Whatever happens, they are still our sisters," cried Gabrielle.

"I know." Xena looked into Gabrielle's eyes. "Please trust us.
Trust me." A second passed, before Gabrielle nodded and Xena pulled the
blonde woman into a hug and kissed her on the forehead. "We'll be back
soon. I love you." She turned and sprinted after Eponin, who was now
standing with Ephiny, Kaelin and Solari. After the briefest of moments, the
small huddle parted ways, each running to a crowd of Amazons,
yelling orders and within minutes they were dashing out of the gates and into
the dark forest, leaving Gabrielle alone in the village square.